Nachrichten ukrainischer Firmen

März 2007Khartsyzsk Pipe Plant to allocate over UAH 138 million for technical
modernization in 2007
OJSC Khartsyzsk Pipe Plant is to invest UAH 138 million in modernization,
reconstruction, production renovation and ecological protection in 2007.
Most of the allocated assets will be used for further reconstruction of
plants No.2 and No.4. In 2006, Khartsyzsk Pipe Plant invested about UAH
130 million into the construction of a new line for producing large diameter
pipes.
30.03.2007 Source: Interfax

SPF sells 0.08% stake in Mittal Steel Kryviy Rih for UAH 20.85 million
The State Property Fund of Ukraine on March 29 sold a 0.08% stake in
OJSC Mittal Steel Kryviy Rih on the Kyiv International Stock Exchange
at the starting price fixed at UAH 20.85 million. The stocks were sold
for UAH 6.95 each with the face value being UAH 1. A 0.17% stake was
divided into 13 lots. The Sincome investment company bought five lots
and Concorde Capital bought one lot (both based in Kyiv). One lot includes
500,000 stocks. As reported, the SPF on March 27 sold a 0.17% stake
in OJSC Mittal Steel Kryviy on the Ukrainian Stock Exchange at the starting
price fixed at UAH 45.382 million.
30.03.2007 Source: Interfax

Khartsyzsk Pipe Plant commissions new pipe production line
OJSC Khartsyzsk Pipe Plant has commissioned a new line for the production
of large diameter pipes with an annual capacity of 200,000-300,000 tonnes.
The new line began operating on March 28. The line produces gas and
oil pipes with diameters of 508-1,422 mm and working pressures of 5.4-11.8
Mpa, made of X70 steel according to the classification of American Petroleum
Institute, and gas pipes with diameters of 1,220 mm and 1,420 mm, made
of X80 steel. The new line was constructed according to the project
developed by Haeusler AG Duggingen (Switzerland).
30.03.2007 Source: press release of Khartsyzsk Pipe Plant

Moody's reviews B3 notes of Azovstal Iron & Steel Works for
possible downgrade
Moody's Investors Service, Inc on March 28, 2007 placed on review for
possible downgrade the B3 rating for the senior unsecured loan participation
notes due 2011 issued by Azovstal Capital B.V., a Dutch special purpose
vehicle. The notes are issued for the sole purpose of financing Azovstal
Capital B.V.'s 100% sub-participation in a loan extended by Moscow Narodny
Bank Limited to Azovstal Iron and Steel Works. The corporate family
rating of Azovstal was affirmed at B2. The rating review was prompted
by the absence of reduction in secured indebtedness which continues
to represent 47% of gross debt.
29.03.2007 Source: Moody's press release

SPF sells 0.17% stake in Mittal Steel Kryviy Rih for UAH 45.4 million
The State Property Fund of Ukraine sold a 0.17% stake in OJSC Mittal
Steel Kryviy Rih in Dnipropetrovsk region on the Ukrainian Stock Exchange
at the starting price fixed at UAH 45.382 million on March 27. The stocks
were sold for UAH 6.95 each with the face value being UAH 1. The stocks
were bought by Renaissance Capital Ukraine (three lots), the Sincome
investment company (six lots) and Concorde Capital (three lots). One
lot includes 500,000 stocks. Moreover, Concorde Capital bought a non-standard
lot of 529,803 stocks. Mittal Steel Kryviy Rih is Ukraine's biggest
steel mill and partner of Metal-Forum of Ukraine.
28.03.2007 Source: Interfax

Dniprospetsstal to allocate additional USD 8 million for gas purification
plants
Zaporizhia-based OJSC Dniprospetsstal metallurgical plant is to allocate
another USD 8 million for the installation of gas purification equipment
at steel smelting plants No.1 and No.3, which will allow it to reduce
its emissions of gases harmful to the atmosphere by 2,000 tonnes annually
over the next three years. Steel smelting plant No.2 is already equipped
with a gas purification complex for smelting furnace exhausts. In 2006,
Dniprospetsstal increased roll output by 4.3% compared to 2005, to 312,000
tonnes, while steel output grew by 2.6%, to 519,000.
28.03.2007 Source: press release of Dniprospetsstal

Metinvest plans to boost steel output 10% in 2007
Steel mills represented by Metinvest, which runs the mining and metals
sector assets of the Donetsk-based System Capital Management (SCM),
plan to raise output more than 10% to 9.38 million tonnes of steel products
in 2007, from 8.5 million tonnes in 2006. Metinvest's steel division
includes Azovstal, Ferriera Valsider, Yenakiyeve, Khartsyzsk and trading
company Leman Commodities. Metinvest would be looking at further steel
rolling acquisitions if these are economically feasible.
28.03.2007 Source: press conference of Metinvest

Khartsyzsk Pipe Plant holds talks with metal producers in Japan,
South Korea on skelp supplies
OJSC Khartsyzsk pipe plant is holding talks with metal producers in
Japan and South Korea on skelp supplies for pipe production. Ukraine
has no skelp for production of wide-diameter pipes, which could be produced
at the new pipe production line to be commissioned at the Khartsyzsk
pipe plant on March 28, 2007. The newly commissioned line can produce
pipes with a diameter of 508-1,420 mm. Its capacity is 200,000-300,000
tonnes of pipes annually. It is expected to produce about 100,000 tonnes
of wide-diameter pipes.
28.03.2007 Source. UkrTrubProm

ISTIL Group to conduct IPO in two years
International Steel & Pipe Industries Limited, the parent company
of the ISTIL Group, which includes Donetsk's small steel mill ISTIL
(Ukraine), plans to conduct an IPO in two years, First Vice-President
of ISTIL (Ukraine) Farooq Siddiqui told the press. ISTIL (Ukraine) received
in early 2007 a five-year USD 85 million credit from the EBRD. Mini
steel mill ISTIL is one of the most advanced steel mills in Ukraine
and partner of Metal-Forum of Ukraine.
21.03.2007 Source: press office of ISTIL

Dniprospetsstal to pay dividends for last 3 years
Shareholders of the Dniprospetsstal Steel Works from Zaporizhia, voted
at an extraordinary meeting to accept dividends for the last three years.
The shareholders will receive UAH 102 a share for 2004 and 2005 and
UAH 181 per share for 2006 (UAH 5.05 / USD 1).
19.03.2007 Source: Interfax

ISTIL sees operatimg profit drop by third in 2006
The ISTIL Ukraine mini steel plant saw its operating profit fall by
32.6% to UAH 47.5 million in 2006 amid rising costs. Production costs
rose as prices increased by 21% for scrap, 30% for electricity, 56%
for natural gas, and an increase in rail tariffs by 50% since April
2005. Profits also fell because customs duties on graphite electrodes
were raised to 15% from 2%, and due to the revaluation of the hryvnia,
Istil said. ISTIL produced 920,100 tonnes of steel in 2006, 13.5% more
than a year earlier. Mini steel mill ISTIL is one of the most advanced
steel mills in Ukraine and partner of Metal-Forum of Ukraine.
14.03.2007 Source: press release of ISTIL

Parliamentary committee backs new steel plant in Kiev region
The Ukrainian parliament's industrial and regulatory policy committee
is in favor of Euro Finance Ltd.'s project to build a new steel plant
in the Kiev region town of Bila Tserkov. The project is attractive due
to its proximity to energy and raw material resources, as well as markets
for finished goods. The tentative cost of the plant, which would have
capacity for 1.8 million tonnes of steel products per year, is USD 600
million. The new plant will use electric-arc technology, with equipment
supplied by Siemens VAI Fuchs. Euro Finance Ltd. is a shareholder of
six Ukrainian scrap metal processors, including Kyivvtormet.
13.03.2007 Source: Interfax

Mittal Steel Kryviy Rih boosts domestic sales 53% in January-February
2007
Mittal Steel Kryviy Rih increased sales of steel products on the Ukrainian
market by 52.5% year-on-year to 232,300 tonnes in the first two months
of 2007. Sales on the Ukrainian market jumped 43.7% in February compared
to the previous month, to 137,000 tonnes. Domestic sales grew on the
back of stronger demand, especially from manufacturers of hardware products.
Mittal Steel Kryviy Rih is Ukraine's biggest steel mill and partner
of Metal-Forum of Ukraine.
13.03.2007 Source: Interfax

Nikopol Stainless Steel Pipe Plant sees profit soar 160% in 2006
The Nikopol Stainless Steel Pipe Plant (NZNT) reported net profit up
160% for 2006, to UAH 22.09 million. NZNT shareholders will review the
financial results at their annual general meeting on March 16. NZNT
increased production by 15% to 16,200 tonnes in 2006. The plant makes
more than 1,000 standard sizes of pipe from more than 60 corrosion-resistant
and heat-resistant steels.
08.03.2007 Source: Interfax

Dzerzhinsky Steel Plant boosts earnings 38% in 2006
The Industrial Union of Donbas (IUD) corporation's Dzerzhinsky Iron
& Steel Works (DMK) posted net profit up 37.6% to UAH 432 million
in 2006. The plant's production totaled about UAH 5 billion last year,
and exports topped USD 500 million. UAH 379 million were spent on the
plant's modernization in 2006, which was twice as much as in the previous
year. The plant also spent more than UAH 40 million on energy conservation
technology and about UAH 30 million on environmental projects. DMK plans
to launch a ladle furnace in June, and a third continuous casting machine
in August.
08.03.2007 Source: Interfax

Zaporizhia Ferroalloy Works ups ferroalloy production 4.3% in 2
months
Ukraine's Zaporizhia Ferroalloy Works (ZZF) raised production tentatively
4.3% year-on-year in January-February to 88,100 tonnes of ferroalloys,
including 39,200 tonnes in February. ZZF produces all of the country's
medium- and high-carbon ferromanganese and all of its 90%-metallic manganese.
07.03.2007 Source: Interfax

Nikopol Ferroalloy Works boosts ferroalloy output 12.8% in 2 months
Nikopol Ferroalloy Works (NZF), Ukraine's biggest ferroalloy producer,
raised ferroalloy production 12.8% year-on-year in January-February
to 171,600 tonnes, including 80,300 tonnes in February. The company
produced 130,300 tonnes of silicon manganese and 41,300 tonnes of ferromanganese
in the first two months of 2007. The works raised ferroalloy output
10.2% to 892,900 tonnes in 2006.
05.03.2007 Source: Interfax

"System Capital Management" attracts loan in amount of
USD 400 mln. from BNP Paribas (Suisse) SA
System Capital Management (SCM) company arranged a loan agreement with
BNP Paribas (Suisse) in amount of USD 400 mln. for a term of 4 years.
"Within the next 5 years SCM Group plans to invest more than USD
5 mln. into the development of its own business. Of course we will invest
money into the development of those kinds of business which are traditional
for us - that is into mining and smelting business and energy recourses,
but we also have big plans concerning the development of those business
sectors which are new for us - such as telecommunications, finance and
media. Besides, we are interested in an opportunity to invest money
into real estate", - said Oleg Popov, General Director of SCM.
06.03.2007 Source: press release of Azovstal

Lakshmi Mittal becomes Ukrainian investment council member
Arcelor Mittal CEO Lakshmi Mittal will become a member of the Ukrainian
government's investment council. He said after a Monday meeting with
Ukrainian Premier Viktor Yanukovych that he had gladly accepted the
offer. Mittal said they would meet again after the final investment
plans of the company are drawn up.
05.03.2007 Source: Interfax

Dniprospetsstal sees earnings soar in 2006
Dniprospetsstal, Ukraine's biggest producer of special steels, closed
2006 with net profit up almost six-fold to UAH 195.9 million. Dniprospetsstal
shareholders will hold their annual general meeting on March 14, when
they will review results for 2004-2006, consider distribution of profits
and dividend payments for 2004-2006 and amend the company charter.
02.03.2007 Source: press release of Dniprospetsstal

Dniprometiz to increase production 68% by 2010
OJSC Dniprometiz (Ukraine), which is part of Severstal's metalware division
Severstal-Metiz, plans to increase production 68% to 200,000 tonnes
per year by 2010. The Dniprometiz development plan involves increasing
production capacities and expanding production to 200,000 tonnes by
reconstructing part of the company's production infrastructure, setting
up new types of production, optimizing auxiliary production and implementing
energy conservation projects. Investment in development projects at
the company over the next three years will amount to about UAH 45 million
(USD 10 million). Dniprometiz produced 125,000 tonnes of metal products
in 2006.
02.03.2007 Source: Statement of Severstal-Metiz

Alchevsk Iron & Steel Works may increase charter capital 140%
Alchevsk Iron & Steel Works, which is part of Industrial Union of
Donbas (IUD), may increase its charter capital by UAH 1.5 billion or
139.2% to UAH 2.578 billion by carrying out an additional issue of shares.
This issue would be considered at the AGM on April 17. "The motive
is to attract financial resources to carry out an technical upgrade
at the company," the company´s statement said.
02.03.2007 Source: Statement of Alchevsk Iron & Steel Works

Interpipe to invest USD 720 mln in production development in 2007-2009
Ukraine's Interpipe Corporation intends to invest around USD 720 mln
in upgrades at its pipe and railway wheel factories in 2007-2009, including
USD 610 mln to build an electric furnace steelmaking complex at Dnipropetrovsk-based
Nyzhniodniprovsky Pipe Plant. In 2006, a total of 1.213 mln tonnes of
steel pipes and 216,800 tonnes of wheels were produced at Interpipe
enterprises. Annual turnover is USD 1.6 billion.
02.03.2007 Source: Interfax

Kuettner to supply equipment to Zaporizhstal
Kuettner GmbH, a German company specialized in metallurgical engineering,
will supply equipment for integration of the new technology of pulverized
coal injection (PCI) in blast furnaces at Zaporizhstal. Integration
of PCI process will enable reduction in the annual natural gas consumption.
Zaporizhstal Integrated Iron & Steel Works JSC is one of the largest
industrial enterprises of Ukraine and the main partner of Metal-Forum
of Ukraine. Küttner and Oschatz, both located in Essen, introduced
their Donetsk joint representation office at the Metal-Forum of Ukraine
2006 in Kiev to Ukrainian specialists.
PDF Download
01.03.2007 Source: Press office of Zaporizhstal